Sowetan News Online
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Friends of Jacob Zuma have dared the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to recharge Zuma.
But the NPA yesterday vowed to press ahead with an application in the Durban high court next week for the release of documents from the Mauritian high court related to its corruption case against the ANC deputy president and the French arms company Thint. According to reports the NPA has notified both Zuma and Thint about its move.
In a statement, the ANC Youth League likened NPA boss Vusi Pikoli to a Hollywood film actor whose starring role is to drive the agenda of his "handlers".
"Vusi Pikoli has become a symbol of a campaign to persecute Zuma and he is inspired by actions of his mentors like Claude van Damme, James Bond and the Godfather," the league's Zizi Kodwa said.
"The NPA failed to prosecute Zuma, now it resorts once more to persecution. We condemn these acts as reminiscent of Mafia kind of tactics," he said.
Friends of Zuma spokesman, Kaizer Mohau, said: "We will never hesitate to act when it is necessary to defend our leader.
"We will in the coming months, weeks and days, monitor these developments and threats by Pikoli and his handlers. At the same time we will double our efforts to mobilise our people and resources behind the battle to defend Zuma," Mohau said.
While the documents needed by the NPA are crucial in the corruption case against Zuma, the authority said no decision had been made about recharging Zuma.
NPA spokesman, Makhosini Nkosi, yesterday confirmed that the application will be made in the Durban high court next Wednesday and that both Zuma and Thint's attorneys had been notified.
He would not confirm that this meant that the NPA was considering recharging Zuma, saying "no decision has been taken in this regard".
Zuma's lawyer, Michael Hulley, said he had been notified about the application and that he would oppose it.